Is Damson Idris related to Idris Elba? All we know about actor wearing 20,000 Swarovski crystals to Met Gala

On May 5, Damson Idris, 33, made a striking appearance at the 2025 Met Gala, hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The actor stunned the crowd, marking his extravagant entrance, by stepping out of an APXGP race car.

Amid his recent walk on the red carpet, many are keen to know whether he is related to actor Idris Elba, 52. Though they share the name "Idris", they are not related or connected within their families.

Idris' look was an ode to his upcoming film, F1. For the gala, he wore a custom Tommy Hilfiger racing suit. He complemented his couture with a shining blue, red, and white-colored helmet. Over 20,000 Swarovski crystals were used for the OTT accessory.

Here's what we know about Damson Idris' Met Gala look

Damson Idris is making headlines for his fashion statement at the Met Gala red carpet this year. His surprising stunt of shedding his F1 attire to unveil the custom red three-piece suit stunned fans.

In a conversation with Elle, Giovanna Engelbert, Swarovski's creative director, explained how the magnificent added glitz and glam to Idris' final look.

"The Met Gala is where fashion meets fantasy, and we knew the helmet had to feel both iconic and unexpected. It became the ultimate luxury accessory—sculptural, cinematic, and rooted in pop culture."

Hilfiger also spoke about the actor's helmet and how it dazzled his Met Gala look.

He said:

"The piece was craftsmanship an extraordinary feat of craftsmanship—every crystal meticulously set to catch the light and amplify the moment."

The fashion designer further continued:

"It was bold, unexpected, and a perfect example of what we call the Tommy twist. The arrival fused fashion with racing heritage and high-impact glamour, delivering a showstopping moment to the red carpet that set the tone for the night ahead."

Damson Idris' personal life explored

Born on September 2, 1991, in London, Damson Idris and his five siblings grew up with their mother, Silifat Abike Idris. She was a single mother. According to a Famous Birthdays report, he was the youngest kid and loved playing soccer during his childhood.

In an exclusive conversation with Essence, the actor expressed his love for his "hero", his mom.

"My mother’s name is Silifat Abike Idris. She is my hero, my best friend, my guru. Something she always reminds me about is to be humble, however high I climb."

Recounting the experience of his upbringing and growing up in a single-mother household, Idris further added:

"I just have a love for women. My mother is a Black woman, and that love stays with me. I feel protected by Black women. I feel loved by Black women. I feel at home."

Amid murmurs of his love life, his most publicized relationship was with Lori Harvey. Dating rumors speculating that they are dating started in December 2022.

Fans' curiosity was ignited after seeing them together outside a restaurant in West Hollywood. They were photographed leaving the place. Within a month, they confirmed their relationship on Instagram.

In April 2023, the twosome enjoyed a romantic holiday in Turks and Caicos.

A month later, an insider exclusively spoke about the former duo with Us magazine. The source revealed:

"[Lori’s] got her heart set on being the next Hollywood power couple."

The statement also mentioned:

"Lori adores Damson and he’s equally smitten."

In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the former couple announced their separation, stating they share mutual "love and respect", per a Us magazine report.

Damson Idris was also linked to rapper Saweetie. However, he denied the gossip on The Breakfast Club.

Per Blavity, he said,:

"Me and that queen are just friends. She’s a great piano player, and I didn’t know she could play piano. I don’t even think the world knew, so I was like, 'This is a cool moment' and posted it."

Here's everything we know about Damson Idris' acting career

Though Damson was passionate about playing soccer, he pursued acting as his ultimate career opportunity. According to Wikipedia, the actor attended Brunel University of London to complete a BA degree in Theatre, Film & Television Studies.

Next, Damson Idris joined London's Identity School of Acting to undergo training in acting. In 2012, he started his acting journey. Though he appeared in a few projects like Pandora's Box (2012) and Ghost Town (2013) in his initial years in the industry, he rose to fame through his breakout role as Franklin Saint in Snowfall (2017).

His performance earned widespread acclaim, opening doors to major projects such as Farming (2018), Outside the Wire (2021), Black Mirror (2023), Swarm (2023), The O2 (2025), and F1 (2025).

Idris's new movie F1 is scheduled to release on June 27, by Warner Bros.